152 TROPIC DAYS 



grumbling "That fella too flash," and frankly announc- 

 ing "B'mbi me catch 'm." 



For weeks Soosie kept within doors, or if she ventured 

 out was accompanied by one or other well able and 

 determined to protect her. Her nerves were at acute 

 tension ; her life that of a hunted creature ; for though 

 she thought her fate inevitable, she concentrated her 

 mind on what seemed to others pitiably weak and in- 

 consequent schemes for the bafflement of Duckbill. 



Was it that some ineffaceable trait told her that the 

 tribal law as expounded by Duckbill was so wise that 

 resistance to it was vain, and that the trivial plans over 

 which she worried were merely invented as a sort of 

 temporary palliative ? She scorned the possibiHty of 

 existence in the camp, yet strove to contest it by the 

 use of fantastical devices. She urged that Dan and I 

 should g(^t some fearsome masks and rush the camp 

 in the gloom, at the same time setting off fireworks, 

 and so create such terrifying efi'ects that none would 

 venture near the spot again. With bated breath, she 

 even suggested that I should make a "death-bone" to 

 be employed for the secret ill of Duckbill; she thus ex- 

 posed the dross of hereditary superstition which rose to 

 the surface during mental ebullition. 



It was quite in the nature of things that under stress 

 such a nature should break down. She nestled close 

 to Dan, promising to be his sweetheart on the condition 

 that, rather than that Duckbill should take her away, 

 he would shoot her. If it came about that the dreadful 

 black man was himself driven off or disposed of by 

 some other means and the country made safe for 

 her, then she would marry the man who had saved 

 her, and she hoped that she might never disgrace 

 him. 



Dan accepted the guardianship. His hut was two 



